This songwriting camp offers inspiration and exposure for Nashville girls

Girls gathered in studio spaces just across from Sony’s Music Row building, brainstorming themes for the songs they would write together. Would they write pop hit or something more mellow? Would it be about friendship, heartbreak, or the passing of time?

These were the creative conversations happening at the songwriting camp held by Nashville nonprofit Creative Girls Rock. Throughout this summer, the camp has offered girls exposure to professional songwriters and executives at Sony Music, the camp’s sponsor. Attendees say the camp has helped them hone their craft, build confidence and learn to work with other songwriters.

“I think the biggest takeaway I want them to have is just to be themselves,” said Charmin Bates, founder of Creative Girls Rock. “Just really be open and honest in who you are and tap into that.”

Camp alumna Kiersi Joli learned that lesson last summer in the camp’s inaugural year. This summer she returned to perform for new campers.

“Creative Girls Rock helped me to kind of come out of my shell and establish a groundwork,” Joli said.

The camp also helped her find confidence in her songwriting despite her young age. At just 16 years old, Joli is writing songs professionally for herself and other artists.

One of this year’s campers, Layla Lewis, has learned how to better collaborate with her peers.

“I usually like to go on solo, like, just solo all the time,” she said. “But at this rate, I don’t want to be over it. I want the whole group to be over it, and I’m not as bossy as I usually am.”

Her mother, Krystal Lewis, said she loves how Layla is getting know to Nashville’s songwriting industry through Sony Music. Prior to this camp, Lewis said her daughter had never even been to Music Row. Now, she has gotten exposure to the inner-workings of a major player in the music business.

“This is all new to her,” Lewis said.

Lewis is also struck by her daughters’ fellow campers. She said that at a lot of creative camps, “there might not be many people that look like her. There may not be that many Brown girls there.”

Lewis appreciated the diversity of the camp, and that many of the other girls attend public schools in the area.

In fact, there are fewer barriers to this camp than many other summer programs, because it comes at no cost to families.

“We provide, this songwriting camp free of charge. So free lunch, free exposure to songwriters, [and] Sony executives,” Bates said. “I want to be able to provide these resources for any girl that has an aspiration of being an artist. And they don’t have to worry about the financial burden that they may be experiencing at that time.”

“I just pray that they they never forget this experience and they’ll show someone else the way.” Bates said.